Wire-manufacturing machinery



No. 6I8,396. Patented Ian. 3|, |899. C. A. COWLES.

WIRE MANUFACTURING MACHINERY.

(Application med June 2e, 1897.) No Model.) v 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

No. 6|8,396. Patented lan. 3|, |899. K c. A. cowLEs.

WIRE MANUFACTURING MACHINERY. (Appucacin med June ze', 1897.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.r

(No Model.)

lfill' v jfze,

,B Cla' alfa-m No. 6|8,396. Paiented 1an. 3|, |899.

c. A. cuwLEs.

WIRE MANUFACTURING MACHINERY.

i (Application led June 26, 1897.)A ("0 Model.) 3 sheets-sheet s.

ylIl i UNITED STATES PATENT ENCE.

CHARLES A. COWLES, OF ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

WIRE-IVIANUFACTU RING MACHINERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,396, dated January 31, 1899.

Application liled June 26, 1897.

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, CHARLES A. CovvLEs, of Ansonia, in the county of- New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Manufacturing Wire, of which the following is a specification.

I will describe my improvement in detail and then point out the novel features in the claims. p

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a diagrammatic plan view of apparatus embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is an elevation of an elevator and certain appurtenant parts. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2, but in a plane at right angles to that of said Fig. 2. Fig. 3 also shows some additional parts constituting a modification. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of parts shown in front elevation in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a reel designed to receive coarsewire rod, so called because not die-drawn, formed from an ingot. It also shows parts which are to operate with said reel. Fig. 6 is a top view of a reel-support shown also in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of an acid-trough or a hot-water trough and parts for conveyinga reel of wire into the same. Fig. Sis a sectional elevation of a reel and track along which the same may travel, and a support which may be elevated to engage with the bottom of the reel wheneveritis desired to unwind wire from vthe reel-as, for instance, when the Wire is to be threaded into dies for drawing or when it is to be un wound from the reel in the process of drawing it downto a finer gage. Fig. 9 'is a top view of the support shown in Fig. S. Fig. 10 is an elevation taken parallel to the dotted line lO l0, Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A designates a rolling-mill of any suitable construction. Y

B designates coarse wire proceeding from the last pass. It is wound -upon a reel C,

(shown in Fig. 5,) comprising a head c', having legs c2, pivotally connected to lugs c3, depending from the head. Near the lower end these legs have rods c4, pivotally connected to them, the inner of said rods being Serial No. 642,377. (No model.)

pivotally connected to a central rod c5, which is fitted so as to be capable of sliding longitudinally through the head c, its upper end being passed through the base of a swiveleye c6 and provided with a head for retaining it in place. The swivel-eye c6 may be engaged with a hook CZ', comprised in a trolley D and having a swiveling connection with the trolley, so that it may rotate. This trolley its a track T, that is downwardly inclined to the right in Fig. Al, this inclination being shown in Fig. 5.

Q The base of the swivel-eye c6 is protruded so as to engage with hook-shaped lugs c7, formed integral with or attached to the top of the head c. By rotating the swivel-eye in one way it may be engaged with the lugs c7, so that the central rod o5 will be incapable of moving longitudinally through the head c. By turning the eye in the reverse way it may, however, be disengaged from the said lugs, and then the rod c5 will be capable of mov- Vinglongitudinally through the head c'. Vhile the rod o5 is secured against longitudinal movement through .the head cf, the rods c4 will serve as braces to hold the legs c2 in their outermost positions, as they are represented in Fig. 5. Then the reel is in operative condition for receiving and holding wire. It may be collapsed by disengaging the eye c6 from the lugs c7, for then the rod c5 will slide upward through the head c', so as to draw the rods c4 upward, and consequently swing the legs c2 inward. Any suitable catch for precluding the eye c6 from accidentally turning relatively to the lugs c7 may be provided, if desired. In Fig. 2 a suitable catch cs is represented.

The lower end of the central rod c5 may be made hollow and provided at the lower extremity with a socket ci. The purpose of such a socket will be made plain hereinafter. The lower ends of the legs c2 are turned outward to form feet om, and these are adapted to rest in recesses formed in the upper surface of a support E, which is here (Fig. 5) shown as having engagement by means of a spline With an ,upright rotary shaft e, journaled in bearings in a frame e2. The support E is shown as having a hub es, that is provided with a circumferential groove into which pro- IOO ject pins from bifurcate arms formed upon a lever e4, that is fulcrumed by means ofa pin e5 to the frame e2.

When a reel C has been moved to a position over the support E, the latter may be raised by means of the lever e4, so as to engage with the feet c10 of the reel in order that rotary motion may be imparted to the reel. After the adjustment of the lever e4 into the necessary position for raising the support E into engagement with the reel C a hook e, pivoted to the frame e2, may be engaged with a pin e7 upon the lever to maintain it in this adjustment.

The support e is provided on its upper surface with a number of pins e8, arranged in a circle, which forms a skeleton cylinder upwardly tapered and externally convex at all points. This frame may include the legs c2 of the reel c. A convenient way to produce this convexity is to make the pins round, and the upwardly taper of the cylinder may be conveniently secured by tapering the pins themselves upwardly. Owing to these features of construction they will not prevent the lowering of the support after wire shall have been wound around the reel. Their purpose is to take the strain of thel coarsewire rod while it is being wound upon the reel, so as not to subject the reel to this great strain during the beginning of the winding.

Any suitable means may be provided for rotating the shaft e. As here shown, a beltpulley e is afxed to said shaft and receives a belt elo. This belt will only serve to rotate the shaft e' when tightened upon the pulley e9 by means of a belt-tightener e, consisting of a pulley mounted upon a lever which is fulcrumed by means ofapin cl2 to the frame e2.

Wire having been wound upon a reel C while engaged with a support E is, after the disengagement of the support E, carried by the trolley D along the downwardly-inclined track T. In order to permit it to move along the track T7 the attendant will have to remove a stop S', which detained the trolley D during the winding of the wire upon the reel C. This stop, as here shown, consists of a bolt which may project upwardly through the track or be depressed so that its upper surface will be coincident with the top of the track. A spring s normally elevates it. It may be lowered by either electrical or mechanical means-eas, for instance, a cord descending to within reach of an attendant.

By descending the track T the trolley D will reach an elevator F. (Shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.) Trolleys D,carryin g reels O,may pass one after another as fast as desired and may accumulate at the elevator F. Only one will be able to pass to the elevator at a time. Each one is arrested by means of a stop S2, which may be like the stop S/ and similarly fitted to the track T. The release of the stop S2 will elevate a stop S3, that may be similar to the stops S S2 and similarly iitted to the track T'. The stops S2 SS are connected together by a levers2, fulcrumed to the track T by means of a pin s3, the connection being made in such manner that when one stop is elevated the other 'ill be depressed. Obviously whenever the stop S2 is depressed a trolley will be permitted to pass beyond it; but as the stop S3 will then be raised it will arrest the trolley.

The elevator F' comprises a support or car f, which is made in the shape of a piece of track, so that a trolley may run upon it from an adjacent 4track and from it onto the track to which it is moved. Whenever the elevator support or carf is in position to receive a trolley from the track T the stop S3 will be depressed and the stop S2 raised. Thisis the relation of the parts represented in Fig. 2. The lever s2 has an end s4, which is hinged to the lever by what is known as a knucklejoint, or, in other words, so that it may be depressed relatively to the lever, but not swung upward independently thereof. A spring 55, extending from the main portion of the lever under the hinged end s4, sustains the hinged end in `line with the main portion of the lever, and this spring is so stiff that any downward motion imparted to the hinged end will be transmitted equally to the main part of the lever, unless the lever is restrained from further downward movement, whereupon the hinged end will be moved downward without imparting any movement to the lever. The downward movement of the lever will be limited by a lugs, formed upon the upper end of the stop S3. A downward motion is imparted to the lever by means of a push-piece f, connectedto the elevator support or carf.

As here shown, a rod f2 extends upwardly from the elevator shaft or car f and passes through a guide f3, affixed to a beam V, upon which a track T2 is supported. Above the guide f3 a spring f4 surrounds the rod f2, an adjustable collar f5 heilig affixed to the rod above the spring. A cord fis fastened to the lower part of the rod f2 and passes thence upwardly from a guide-pulley f7 to a windlass f8, which comprises one part, fg, of a clutch ffflo, the other part, flo, of said clutch being affixed to rotate with a shaft fu, upon which the windlass is loosely mounted. The shaft fn is constantly rotated by means of a belt applied to a pulley f12, that is aiiixed to said shaft. Any suitable means may be employed for supporting the shaft-as, for instance, brackets fis. The part f10 of the clutch, although engaged to rotate with the shaft f, is free to move lengthwise of the same for the purpose of rendering the clutch operative or inoperative. As here shown, it is adjustable lengthwise of the shaft j 11 by means ofa lever f14 fulcrumed, to one of the bracketsf1J by means of a pin fw, and connected with a rod fm, that passes down through a collar f, af-

fixed to the rod f2 and operating as atappet.

When the elevator support or car f descends sufficiently far, the collar f will act as a tappet upon a collar aflixed to the lower IOO IIO

.dotted lines in Fig. 2.

end of the rod f1", and it will thereby cause the lever f to render the clutch f9 f10 operative, whereby th'e rotary motion of the shaft f11 will be transmitted to the windlass fsand the cord f6 will be wound up. Thus the elevator support or car f will be raised to a position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, from which a trolley carried by it may descend to the track T2.

Assuming the elevator support or car f to be in line with the track T' at the time of receiving a trolley D, the weight of the trolley will cause a sliding downward movement of the elevator support or car, as indicated by As during this time the windlass is not supporting the elevator support or car, but is being supported by the spring f4, resting upon the guide f2, the springf4 permits of the movement of. the car just described. This will occur without affecting the main port-ion of the lever s2, because of the hinged end 34 of said lever. This motion of the elevator support or car transmitted through the rod f2 to the tappet-collar f17 will start the windlass and cause the trol-` ley to be elevated.

Itwill have been observed that the elevator support or car is provided with a stop S4. This will be like the other stops and raised by a spring S7, attached to the elevator support or car. When the elevator support or car is raised sufficiently, a pin S8, extendingr laterally from the stop S4, will come in contact with a rod fw, tted to slide in a bracket fw, attached to the beam V, a spring being coiled around said rod between the upper part of the bracket and a collar f20, aliixed to said rod. rIhe stop S4 will contact with the rod f18 before the elevatorsupport or car reaches the level of the track T2, and thereupon said stop will be depressed and the trolley will run against the end of the track T2. Consequently as soon as. the elevator support or car reaches the level of the track T2 the trolley will be free to run upon the latter and will pass onto it almost instantaneously. This movement onto the track may be accelerated by giving the adjacent end of the elevator support or car a greater inclination.

The continued upward movement of the elevator support or carwill cause the tappetcollar f17 to strike a collar f21, afxed to the rod f1, and thereupon the clutch f2 f1@ will be rendered inoperative and the windlass will be permitted to lower the elevator support or car. The downward movement of the elevator support or car will be retarded by a dashpot or equivalent device f22. The rapidity of descent may be regulated by a cock f23.

lWhenever the elevator support or car is raised, a spring S10 rocks the lever s2into such a position that it will depress the stop S2 and raise the stop S3 for the purpose of allowing another trolley to pass to a position whence it may be delivered to the elevator support or car after the descent of the latter.

I have not described in detail the form of y clutch f flo, as any suitable clutch may be used.

If desired, I may dispense with the windlass and its appurtenances and instead of that employ a compressed-air engine as a substitute for the dash-pot 722. In such case I will connect with it a supply-pipef24 and control the same by means of a three-way cock f25, using a regulating-cock f26 for the outlet-nozzlef27, through which air in the engine is discharged. The three-way cock is connected by means of a rod f 28, which is connected with the rod fw. The depression of the elevator support 'or car upon receiving a trolley will eect the opening ofthe three-way cock f25, so as to permit of the entrance of compressed air into the engine. Thus the elevator will be caused to raise the elevator support or car and trolley. At the proper time the tappetcollar f17 will strike the upper collar]21 and reverse the three-Way cock f25, so as to cut oft the supply of compressed ain and discharge the contents of the engine into the atmosphere.

. The track T2 extends to a position over an acid-trough G, which may be arranged in the floor. It will be seen by reference to Fig. v7 that the track takes a somewhat sudden dip above the trough. Trolleys traveling along the track will carry reels. Any number of reels of Wire may thus be carried into the trough. Any acid suitable for removing rust and cleaning the wire generally may be used. Handoperated stops'S5 S6, like the stop S', may be arranged in this portion of the track to control the delivery of the reels of wire.

An elevator F2 is arranged adjacent to the track T2 for carrying up the trolleys and reels of wire one at a time to a track T2. The elevator may be substantially like the elevator F', already described, except that instead of being started automatically it may be started by hand, if desired. If the trough G is made sufficiently long, this. elevator may be in 'all respects like the elevator F', and the stops S7 S8 may be constructed and combined together and with the elevator F2in the same manner that the stops S2 S3 are constructed and combined with each other and the elevator F.

The track T2, near theend which receives the trolleys, is provided with a hand-operated stop S9. By this means each trolley may be so detained as to properly drain off the acid into the trough. When a trolley has been permitted to pass the stop S9, it will travel along the track T2 until it reaches another hand-operated stop'SlO. Here the wire may be showered with water to wash oi the acid. By manipulating the stop S10 the trolley may be permitted to run along the track T3 until it is carried into a hot-Water trough H, which may in general construction be like the trough G. Any number of trolleys with reels lnay pass through this trough at the same time; but it will not be necessary for any one of them to dwell.

The track T3, above the trough H, is provided with two stops S11 S12, which will be IOO` vIIO

preferably operated by the same mechanism as I have shown and described in connection with the stops S2 S3.

At the end of the track T3 is an elevator F3,

which may be constructed and may operate4 like the elevator F. It will deliver trolleys carrying reels to a track T4. Along the track T4 the trolleys travel until arrested by stops S13 S14, which may be manually operated to release trolleys one at a time. While detained by the stop S14 areel maybe supported by a table l, supported by a rod t', having a sliding connection in a tubular bracket i. (See particularly Figs. 8 and 9.) The table has in Vits upper surface recesses for the feet of the reel, so that the reel will interlock with the table. The table is not affixed to the rod t', but is pivotally connected therewith, being supported upon a conical collar '112, which is secured by a set-screw or otherwise to the rod in any desired position. The reel may be the same reel C as previously described and the upper end of the rodz'enters the socket c5 of the reel.

A lever arrangement similar to the one described in connection with Fig. 5 may be used for adjusting the table I vertically and holding it in its operative position. As here shown, t3 is a lever, and t1 a fulcrum, extending from the bracket i. The lever engages with a pin 5, extending from the rod z', and the bracket i has a hook /L' for engaging the lever. The weight of the reel may be more or less imposed upon the collar t2 by adjusting the latter vertically upward along the rod i and securing it there, as thus more orless weight will be taken from the trolley. The friction generated while the table turns upon the collar may therefore be varied to properly resist the unwinding of the reel. The wire is only intended to be partially unwound from a reel detained by the stop S14, the purpose being simply to unwind enough to thread upon it the dies which are to be employed in a machine for drawing down the wire to a smaller size. A machine J for threading the wire through the dies is shown adjacent to the elevator F4.

When the wire has been sufficiently unwound, the table I will be lowered and the stop S11 depressed, so as to permit the reel, with its trolley, to move onward until it reaches an elevator F1. This elevator may be automatic, like the elevator F', already described. Thus each trolleyfand reel will be delivered to a track T5. Upon this track trolleys with reels may accumulate and be released one at a time by means of stops S15 S15.

Beyond the stop S16 is a switch T5, operated by a lever arrangement T7, and capable of being adjusted into line with either of two tracks T8 T9. Upon the track T8 two trolleys, with their reels, may be supported while the wire is unwound from the reels to pass through a wire-drawing machine WV. If the trolleys are directed to the track T9, they will be retained until the wire shall have been taken from the reels upon track T8, whereupon the neXt wire may be taken from reels supported from the track T9. The reels while the Wire is being taken from them for the wire-drawing machine W will be supportedv by a table I and appurtenances, as shown in Fig. 8.

The empty reels pass, with their trolleys, from the tracks T8 T9 onto a switch T1o and thence to an elevator F5, which may be like the elevator F', and serves to deliver the empty reels, with their trolleys, upon a track T11, where they will be kept in storage by means of stops S17 S18. They may be released one at a time onto a switch T12 and delivered thence either onto the track T' or onto a track T13, the latter being for the purpose of supporting a reel while it takes wire from the rolls A, a reel first being used for this purpose upon the track T' and then another being used upon the track T13, and so on. A switch T14 takes the reels from the tracks T T13 to the elevator F'.

' The wire delivered from the wire-drawing machine W is taken by reels C, supported by 'an elevator K of the kind shown in an application filed by me on the 23d day of February, 1897. This elevator will, preferably, be a hydraulic elevator. As shown in Fig. l0, it has a cylinder k', a piston or plunger k2, working vertically in the same, a cross-beam 765, affixed to the plunger 7a2, and two beams 7a4, suspended by rods 7&5, which are pivotally connected by turn-tables 765 with the beam 7c3. As soon as the reel is filled with wire the elevator K will be raised and the beams 7a4 will be rotated to transfer the filled reels to a position in alinement with tracks T15 T1G and empty reels to a position opposite the wire-drawing machine. It will be seen that the trolleys supporting these reels may travel lengthwise of the beams 7a4.

The tracks T15 T1G extend to a turn-table U, having four track-sections in a cruciform arrangement and adapted to sustain four trolleys withtheir reels. This may be turned by hand to Atake filled reels from the tracks T15 T16 and deliver them to a track T17 and also to receive empty reels from a track T18 and deliver them to the tracks T15 T15.

Bolts t t2 will serve to lock the beams It* in line with the tracks T15 '115 and also lock the turn-table U, so that its arms will be in line with the tracks T15 T16 and withthe tracks T17 T18. The track T17 leads to an elevator F5, which may be like the elevator F. It delivers trolleys one at a time toa track T1, where trolleys with their reels filled with wire may accumulate for storage. They will be delivered under control of stops S19 S20. The stop S21 will detain one at a time in position to be supported by the table I and appurtenances, as shown in Fig. S, until sufficient wire has been withdrawn for threading it by means of a machine J, through dies for a second reducingmachine.

After having been threaded the trolleys,

IOO

IIO

Wth their reels, may accumulate upon the track T19 farther on and there be controlled by stops S21 S22. Beyond the stop S22 is a switch T20, operatingin connection with tracks T21 T22, which may receive the reels in positions where they will be supported by tables and their appurtenances, as shown in Fig. 8, while their wire is passed from them through a second Wire-drawing machine W', where it is further reduced in diameter.

The empty reels may be taken from the tracks T21 T22 by a switch T23 to an elevator F7,which may be like the el'evator F', and will deliver the trolleys,with their empty reels, one at a time tothe track T18. It will of course have been understood that the tracks have a continuous incline in the direction in which the trolleys have to travel.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. An .apparatus for conveying material to different places where it is to be treated, consisting of a track, a support arranged upon said track and extending below the same, means for operating upon said material, and a device arranged adjacent to said track for moving the support vertically to the means which are lto operate upon the material, substantially as specified.

2. In an apparatus for conveying material to different places where it is to be treated, 'consisting of a track, a support arranged on said track and extending below the same, and carrying the material to be treated, said track being inclined toward the placewhitherthe support is desired to be moved, means for-operating upon the material carried by the support, and a device arranged adjacent to said track for moving the support vertically to the means for operating upon said material, and also in order that it may be started onward in its course, substantially as specified.

An apparatus for moving material to places where it is to be treated, consisting of tracks, a support arranged to travel upon said tracks, upon which the material may be arranged, means for operating on said material, said tracks being inclined for lowering the support to the means, and an elevator located at the inclined end of' said tracks for raising said support from the machine to tracks, or directly from some tracks to other tracks, substantially as specified. l

4L. An apparatus for conveying material to different points to be treated consisting of tracks, a support for traveling on said tracks and carrying the material and a device adjacent to said tracks for raising said support from one track to another, said device comprising a section of' track on which said supports might travel, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus for movin g wire to places where it is to be treated, the combination of reels, trolleys with Whichsaid reels have a swivel connection, tracks along which said trolleys may be caused to travel, elevators for lowering and raising said trolleys and reels intermediate of different tracks, substantially as specified'.

6. In an apparatus for moving wire'to'places where it is to be treated, the combination of reels, trolleys with which said reels have a swivel connection, a Atrack along which said trolleys may be caused to travel, and rotary supports with which said reels at their lower ends may be engaged, substantially as specir fied.

7. In an apparatus for moving wire to places where it is to be treated, the combination of reels, trolleys with which said reels have a swivel connection, a track along which said trolleys may be caused to travel, rotary supports with which said reels at their lower ends may be engaged, and means combined with said rotary supports, so that at the will of an attendant the said supports and the reels may be rotated while the trolleys are still upon the tracks, substantially as specied.v

8. In an apparatus for moving wire to places where it is to be treated, the combination of reels, trolleys with which said reels have a swivel connection, a track along which said trolleys may be caused to travel, and rotary supports with which said reels at their lower ends may be engaged, said rotary supports having a number of pins for taking the strain of the wire first wound upon the reel, substantially as specified.

9. In an apparatus for moving wire to places where it is to be treated, the combination of supports for the wire, a track along which said supports may travel, and a tank into which the wire will be carried when the said supports travel along the said track, substantially as specified.

l0. In an apparatus for moving wire to places where it is to be treated, the combination of supports for the wire, a main track alon which said supports may travel, a switch at one end of said track, and duplicate or storage tracks,` into line with either of which said switch may be set for the purpose of' establishing communication between it and the main track, substantially asspecitied.

ll. In an apparatus for moving wire to places where it is to be treated, the combina- IOO IIO

tion of reels for the wire, trolleys with which said reels have a swivel connection, a track along which said trolleys may be caused to travel, and a wire-drawing machine arranged adjacent to a part of said track, so that it may take wire from the reels while the trolleys supporting such reels are upon said track,

13. In an apparatus for moving wire to places Where it is to be treated, the combination of supports for the wire, a track along which said supports may be caused to travel,

stops, and means whereby the stops are con` nected in such a manner that when one is raised another will be depressed, so that'one of a number of trolleys may be allowed to pass at a time along the track, substantially as specified.

14. In an apparatus for moving Wire to places where it is to be treated, the combination of supports for the wire, a track along which said supports maybe caused to travel, stops S2, S3, a lever s2, a spring S10 and an elevator F', substantially as specified.

15. In an apparatus for moving wire to places where it is to be treated, the combination of supports for the wire, a track along which said supports may be caused to travel, Stops S2, S3, and a lever s2 having a yielding nose-piece s4, S5, substantially as specied.

16. In an apparatus for moving wire to places where it is to be treated, the combination of supports for the wire, tracks along which said supports may be caused to travel, and a turn-table, as U, to enable said supports to be transferred from one track to another, substantially as specified.

17. In an apparatus for moving wire to places where it is to be treated, the combination of supports for the wire, tracks along which said supports may be caused to travel, and a combined elevator and turn-table, substantially as specified.

18. In an apparatus for moving wire to places where it is to be treated, the combination of supports for the wire, tracks along which said supports may be caused to travel, and a combined elevator and turn-table consisting of a main bar and two cross-bars for sustaining the said supports, substantially as specified.

19. In an apparatus for moving Wire to places Where it is to be treated, the combination of supports for the wire, a track along which said supports may be caused to travel, an elevator having a carriage or part normally in alinement with said track, and com-V prising hoisting mechanism consisting of a rotary shaft, a loosely-mounted windlass and a clutch, and means whereby the windlass Will be clutched to the shaft whenever the said carriage or part of the elevator receives ,one of the said supports for material to be treated, substantially as specified.

20. In an apparatus for moving wire to places where it is to be treated, the combination of supports for the Wire, a track along which said supports may be caused to travel, an elevator having a carriage or part normally in alinement with said track, and coinprising hoisting mechanism consisting of a rotary shaft, a 1oosely-mounted Windlass and a clutch, and means comprising a rod and tappets whereby the windlass will be clutched to the shaft whenever the said carriage or part of the elevator receives one of the said supports for material to be treated, substantially as specified.

21. In an apparatus for moving wire to places where it is to be treated, the combination of supports for the Wire, a track along Which said supports may travel, an elevator having a carriage or part normally sustained in a yielding manner in alinement with said track, and comprising hoisting mechanism consisting of a rotary shaft,a loosely-mounted windlass and a clutch, and means whereby the windlass will be clutched to the shaft whenever the said carriage or part of the elevator receives one of the said supports for material to be treated, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES A. COVLES.

Witnesses:

ERNEST HoPKINsoN, ANTHONY GEEF. 

